National Day (Singapore)
Next: August 9, 2027
Red, white and singing along.
The story
Where it comes from
Singapore became a sovereign, independent nation on 9 August 1965, and National Day marks that birthday. The first National Day Parade was held a year later, on 9 August 1966, at the Padang, the field opposite City Hall. It was a 90-minute morning march-past of some 23,000 people, from soldiers and uniformed groups to teachers, trade unionists and schoolchildren, reviewed by President Yusof Ishak. The parade has been the heart of the day ever since, held over the years at the Padang, the National Stadium and The Float at Marina Bay.
How it's celebrated
In the weeks before, housing estates hang rows of red-and-white flags, and estates compete to put up the most creative display. Parade tickets are so sought after that they are given out by e-ballot. The parade itself brings mass performances, national songs, military displays and fireworks, and it is broadcast live, so families across the island and Singaporeans overseas watch and sing along, while the heartlands hold celebrations of their own.
Did you know
- The first parade ended with sixty lions and dragons dancing on the Padang, finishing just minutes before the rain came.
- Many of the best-loved National Day songs date from the 1980s, among them 'Count on Me, Singapore' (1986).
- Singaporeans were first allowed to fly the national flag outside their homes for National Day in 1988.
The greeting
Happy National Day · Selamat Hari Kebangsaan
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